Effect of Bright Light Therapy on Idiopathic Scoliosis

Recruiting now · Not applicable

Conditions studied: Idiopathic Scoliosis, Eveningness, Delayed Sleep Phase

In brief

This trial aims to investigate whether morning bright light therapy can reduce the progression rate of idiopathic scoliosis in children and potentially prevent its de novo development.

Key facts

Study ID

NCT07424703

Run by

Second Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University

People needed

120

Starts

2025-09-01

Expected to finish

2028-09-01

Last updated by the study team

2026-05-19

Who can join

Age: 10 and older, up to 15. Sex: any. Healthy volunteers: not accepted.

You may qualify if…

• Age between 10 and 15 years.
• Classified as evening chronotype based on the reduced Horne-Östberg Morningness-Eveningness Questionnaire (rMEQ), defined as a score < 12.
• Has undergone radiographic evaluation (standing full-spine X-ray) for idiopathic scoliosis at the initial clinic visit.
• Skeletally immature (Risser sign 0-3) with a major Cobb angle < 40 degrees at baseline.
• Written informed consent/assent provided by the participant and legal guardian.
• Willing and able to comply with the study protocol, including device use and scheduled follow-ups.

You may not qualify if…

• Plans to relocate outside the study area within the next 24 months.
• Use of medications that may interfere with circadian rhythm within the past 3 months (e.g., lithium, exogenous melatonin, melatonergic antidepressants).
• Trans-meridian travel across at least two time zones within the past 3 months or anticipated during the study period.
• Presence of any eye disease (e.g., glaucoma, retinal disease, macular degeneration) that could be exacerbated by or interfere with light therapy.
• Clinically diagnosed sleep disorder (e.g., narcolepsy, restless legs syndrome) or prominent medical condition known to interfere with sleep continuity and quality (e.g., moderate-to-severe eczema).
• Severe chronic health conditions that could confound study outcomes, including but not limited to:
• Known syndromic, neuromuscular, or congenital musculoskeletal causes of scoliosis.
• History of spine surgery or significant spinal trauma.
• Spinal tumor.
• Leg length discrepancy > 20 mm.
• Other severe chronic diseases (e.g., poorly controlled diabetes, chronic liver or renal disease, malabsorption syndromes).
• Severe obesity (body mass index z-score ≥ 3).

Where it is running

• The Second Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University — Zhejiang, Zhejiang, China (enrolling)

Full record on ClinicalTrials.gov

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